SPRINGFIELD – The annual count of the homeless had mixed results in January, with the number of people living on the streets here continuing to decline while the number of homeless families continued to climb.

The “point-in-time” count, which was conducted on the night of Jan. 26, found just five individuals living on the streets, as compared to 10 people last January, according to the Mental Health Association, which coordinated the street count joined by various organizations and individuals.

A related count by the city, however, found 166 sheltered homeless families on that date, as compared to 139 families the year before, said Geraldine McCafferty, the city’s director of housing.

“The housing crisis and high rate of joblessness makes us very worried about increasing homelessness,” McCafferty said.

The number of sheltered families in Springfield, which includes those in local shelters and motels, has increased six consecutive years, according to the city statistics.

David Havens, program director of homeless outreach for the Mental Health Association, based in Springfield, said the outdoors count is conducted annually to see how many are living on the streets, and to encourage them to use available resources and programs in seeking more permanent shelter. The low temperature on Jan. 26 was minus-4 degrees with a trace of snow.

Five years ago, 33 people were found on the streets, he said.

McCafferty said the street number has declined seven years in a row, from 98 individuals found in 2004.

The discovery of just five individuals reflects “our aggressive campaign to move people from the street to permanent, supportive housing,” McCafferty said.

The effort is even more notable, due to an expanded search and outreach this year, she said.

The number of homeless individuals in Springfield (without children) was 211 in January, counting those in shelters, as compared to 203 counted last January, McCafferty said.

The family numbers were disappointing, McCafferty said.

The 166 homeless families totaled 557 adults and children, as compared to 449 family members last year.

The state has concentrated on getting more homeless families into housing, which was helping to bring down homeless numbers, McCafferty said. However, once “Housing First” funds began to dry up in the summer, homeless numbers began to rise again, she said.

“It really shows the adminstration has the right idea of how the system needs to transform, but it’s hard to have money to run the existing system and transform it to something new at the same time,” McCafferty said.

Havens said it is encouraging to see the street numbers decline dramatically, saying it reflects that “strategies employed by MHA in collaboration with other agencies are having the desired effect.”

The street count occurs annually on the last Wednesday in January.

Those involved in the street count included local human service professionals, formerly homeless people, social club program members and nursing staff working with the homeless, Havens said.